Combination step-ladder and ironing-board.



No. 769,397. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

M. H. ODONNBLL & J. R. MAOKEY.

COMBINATION STEP LADDER'AND IRONING BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1904.

NO MODEL.

52 wol 5/33.

2 .9 1 g I Q /J f5 J mm/ 101?! Marlin [/(ODwzne ll Jam e6 1?, M an y By fi f w ATTORNEYS WITNESSES LY/Q a Patented September 6, 1904.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN H. ODONNELL AND JAMES R. MACKEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINATION STEP-LADDER AND ,IRONING-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,397, dated September 6, 1904.

Application filed March 16,1904.

ironing-boards; and the object thereof is to provide an improved combination device of this class which is simple in construction and operation and which maybe folded compactly together when not in use; and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in a device of the class specified constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of our improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Figure l a perspective view of our improved combination step-ladder and ironingboard when in position for use as a step-ladder; Fig. 2, a side view thereof; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the device in position for use as an ironing-board; Fig. l, a side view showing the device folded compactly together as when not in use; Fig. 5, a plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a central longitudinal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, but showing the device folded together as in Fig. l; and Fig. 7, an inside view of one side portion of the ladder and showing a detail of the construction.

Our improved combination step-ladder and ironing-board comprises two principle parts, consisting of a main ladder member a and an ironing-board member 7), which are hinged together at c. The ladder member a comprises the usual parallel side bars a and steps a, and the side bars may be of any desired length, and the steps a may be of any desired number. The side bars o of the ladder Serial No. 198,495. (No model.)

member a are preferably beveled or inclined at the upper ends thereof, as shown at a, and are also provided with brackets 15, between which is pivoted a step-plate (7, which is adapted to rest firmly on the board member 7) when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1

and 2.

Pivoted to the outer side of each of the side bars a of the ladder member 11 is a bar a, this pivotal connection being made centrally of the said bars a? and also centrally of the bars 0, as shown at and said bars a are connected at their lower ends by a transverse plate or member (1 secured to the front edge thereof, and at their upper ends by a transverse plate or member 0*, which is secured to the back edge thereof, and said parts 1 a, and 1; form a brace 0 which aids in holding the board member 7) in proper position when the device is in use as an ironing-board, as shown in Fig. 3.

Pivoted to the upper opposite side portions of the ironing-board member 7) are armsf, which are adapted to swing on their pivotal supports atf", and secured to these arms is a plate f, which when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 constitute an extension of the ironing-board member 7) and which when the parts are in position shown in Fig. 2 constitute a shelf to support a bucket of water or anything else which it is desired to use in connection with a step-ladder, as when cleaning walls or a ceiling. The longer ends of the arms f support the plate f, and the shorter ends f thereof are beveled, as shown in Fig. 2, and the opposite edges of the main ironing-board member 7) have corresponding beveled shoulders, as shown at f, and this construction enables the shorter ends f of the arms f to support the plate f in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, in which it forms a part of the ironing-board 7), and the beveled shoulders f may be formed by securing supplemental strips f to the ironingboard member 7), or said member may be made wide enough independently of said steps to permit of the formation of said shoulders "hen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the shorter ends of the arms 1" operate beneath the plate a, which forms a part of the brace J, comprising the parts 12, c, and a,

as hereinbefore described and as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The bottom end portion of the ironing-- board member 7) is provided with stops or blocks g, which are secured thereto, and in provided with a pivoted catch which is adapted to be swung over one of the side bars a when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, so as to hold said parts compactly together.

The side bars a of the ladder member a are alsoprovided with plates i, which are secured to the back thereof and as shown in detail in Fig. '7, and these plates are provided with laterally-directed projections i at their lower ends, which aid in holding the brace in proper position when the device is used as an ironing-board, as shown in Fig. 3; but these devices are not absolutely necessary and may or may not be employed.

Hinged to one of the steps a of the ladder member a, as shown at 7', is a brace 1' and the ironing-board member 6 is providedwith a hook f which is adapted to pass through a corresponding hole in the free end of the brace 7' and this brace is designed to hold the ladder member and ironing-board member 7) in proper position when the device is used as a step-ladder, and the ironing-board member 6 is provided in the inner side thereof, or in the front thereof when the device is used as a step-ladder, With a longitudinal recess j", adapted to receive the brace 7' when the parts of the device are folded together, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

It will be understood that the ironing-board member 6 constitutes what is known as the back member of the step-ladder in our improved construction, and the step plate (Z constitutes the top step ofv the step-ladder, and by means of our improvement we provide a device of the class specified which is simple in construction and operation and strong and durable and which is also comparatively inexpensive, and various changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention or sacrificing its advantages.

It will be observed that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the ladder member a and brace 6 form a cross-frame for supporting the ironing-board member 6, and the parts i and i hold these parts in such position, even if the free end of the board member 6 be raised, as shown in dotted lines in said figure, and this ability to raise one end of the board member 7) facilitates the operation of the device as an ironing-board, as various articles may be slipped onto said board by thus raising one end thereof, and when the parts 2' and 2' are employed the device will operate as an ironing-board without the use of the stops or blocks 9.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

angles thereto when the device is used as astep-ladder, the ladder member being also provided with a brace composed of parallel side bars pivoted centrally thereto and end cross-pieces secured to the opposite ends of said side bars and to the front and back edges thereof, and said board member being also provided with lugs or projections in connection with which said brace operates when the device is used as an ironing-board, substantially as shown and described.

2. A combination step-ladder and ironingboard, comprising a ladder member and an ironing-board member hinged together at one end, the ladder member being provided at said end with a hinged step adapted to rest on the ironing-board member in one position of the parts, the ironing-board member being provided at said end with a supplemental hinged plate or board adapted, in one position of the parts to form an extension of said ironing-board and in another position of said parts to form a shelf at right angles to said board; said ladder member being also provided with a brace adapted to form, in connection with said ladder member, a crossframe for supporting the ironing-board; substantially as shown and described.

3. A combination step-ladder and ironingboard, comprising a ladder member and an ironing-board member hinged together at one end, the ladder member being provided at said end with a hinged step adapted to rest on the ironing-board member in one position of the parts, the ironing-board member being provided at said end with a supplemental hinged plate or board adapted in one position of the parts to form an extension of said ironing-board and in another position of said parts to form a shelf at right angles to said board, said ladder member being also provided with a brace adapted to form, in connection with said member, a cross-frame for supporting the ironing-board, and said ladder member being also provided with means for holding the brace and said member in a crossed position, substantially as shown and described.

i. A device of the class described, comprising a ladder member and an ironing-board member hinged together at one end, a brace hinged to one of said parts and adapted to be connected with the other, a brace hinged to the opposite sides of the ladder member and adapted to form in connection therewith a a cross-frame for supporting the ironing-board member in position for use as such, a folding step connected with the hinged end of the ladder member and a folding member connected with the ironing-board member at said end and adapted to be held in line therewith in one position of the parts and at an angle thereto in another position of said parts, all

of said parts being adapted to be folded compactly together horizontally, and means for locking the parts in the folded position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names, in presence of the subscribing Witnesses, this 5th day of March, lQOeL.

MARTIN H. ODONNELL. JAMES R. MACKEY. \Vitnesses:

F. A. STEWART, U. E. MULREANY. 

